Boom conveyor apparatus



March 20, 1956 Hl W HAPMAN BOOM CONVEYOR APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 51, 1950 3 nventor y ZM a/a/fm a/a Gttornegs 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. W. HAFMAN BOOM CONVEYOR APPARATUS March 20, 1956 Filed March 31, 1.950

United 2,73-s;ss7

B'ooM 'CoNvEYoR APPARATUS Henry W.!Hapma'n, Detroit, ,Mich., assigner of forty per cent to Hannah Jane Hapman, Detroit, Mich.

This "invention relates Ito 'material-feeding apparatus 'adltifnpaticulan to coke ove'n feeding apparatus.

States Patent iHtherto, `coke ovens, which are very long and narrow,

have `been mounted side by `side inhatteries and have been vof very heavy construction kin `order to support `rails on f-their -roofs 'which in turn ca'r'ry coal Scars Sfor dumping coal into the top portions of the ovens. This "means of delivering coal Ato thelovens causes thefcoal to :pile up in ja'pproX-iinately conical'fhe'ap's oh the oor of the oven. "lil order 4to level off these piles of coal, coke manufacftu'rers have hitherto used Aaso-called coke bar which is insettc'dthrough anopenng in the 'front ofthe ovenand pushedback and forth. In so doing, however, the 'coke il'barus'ually pulls 'sonic coal out of lthe ove'n through 'the 'front opening, this spilledcoal interfering with 4the'opera- "tions and requiring additional labor to lrecover it or addi- 'tioual apparatus to return it lto Vthe interior -of `the oven. "Since ythe v charge for "each oven ordinarily amounts to f5 tonsiof coal, the 'rooff the oven andthe tracks, cars andstructural steel at the 'top of the oven mustbe made very strong, thereby resulting "inexpensive installation.

"IS/I'oreover,` the'coke oar cannot "beope'rated'while 'dumpi'n'g is taking'place, hence itsuse consumes ltirne andslows Jup the operationoftheoven.

VThe fpresent invention 'provides a selfcontained car `rnounted`hopper and elongatedboorn conveyor 'which is `filled with coal from the `usual 'elevator at the end "of the"battery of ovens and depositing vhalf theentire charge of Acoal on its yforward -run and theother half on its return run in a smooth eventopped-charge .withoutaany necessity for "levelingit off.

4 which iszthe'n 'rellel o n 'its' supt 3 ,porting car to the oven 4which 4is 'to b "e, charged its approximately fteentons of coal.` 'lhelower car or The boom conveyor is so constructed and arranged to` withstandfthe oven temperatureof around Y1400" F. and goes into the combustion space iat the top of the oven. .Thespresent invention -lls the `lower half of the oven going in and the upper-half `coming out, and requires Vno coke bar. -I-t 'also\eliminates the necessity `for the un-V i .usuallyfstrong oven construction hitherto required-in Order to-carrytthe `weight'of the coal-cars, `rails and supporting structure on topoftheovensintprior oven installations.

@ne "object of this -invention is Itherefore to provide a `coke oven'feeding apparatus which will completely `lill -a coke `oven with a measured charge of coal through ythe tront-wall of the oven in a smooth level-topped heaplwith- Aout peaks whichfhithetol'havehadto 'be levelled dit and consequently without requiring a coke "bar 'for doing so, or 'a heavy yroof construction for supporting the coal supply cars.

.Another object is to vprovide a 4coke oven 'feeding ap- -paratus of foregoing charae'ter having 'ah elongated boornconveyor adapted to'b'e inove'd i'iito and otit o'f 'the oven and to transfer a measured charge of coal from a self-contained hopper to the `interior of the oven,` depositing part of the charge while moving into the oven and the other part of the charge while moving out `of vthe oven, Ythereby `charging w'the oven to its full extent in the minimum time without spilling `any of the Vcoal out :the `iront of'tthe oven, as Aoccurred with the -coke bars hitherto used for `leveling olf the piles of coal deposited lby fcoalfsupply :cars through the vtop of the oven.

Another `object :s -to `provide a A'coke oven feeding ap; paratus of the foregoing character which is constructed and arranged of 'heateresis'ting materials so as to Withstand :the .hightemperatures 'occurring in suchovens while charging such ovens.

Another "object ris to lprovide Ia cokeoven feeding apparatus of the foregoing vcharacter which will Vdispense with and eliminate 'the 'heavy roof construction and the --overhead rails, supporting structure andcoal supply cars hitherto required for rcharging coke ovens `with coal Vas `welllas 1toelin'1inate the coke bar and its supporting ap- `:paratus hitherto required torleveling ott the piles of coal deposited by such prior charging apparatus.

Another object is to 'provide a coke `oven feeding ap- :paratus fof lthe Vforegoing `character wherein the endless 'llig'ht 'conveyor' used therein Y'is provided with specially arranged 'shear pins so positioned as to give way and permit 'the flight or '-ilights to fold backward along the c'h'ain in the event the conveyor encounters a lump or body of foreign material which `would otherwise 'break the conveyor, 'thereby/enabling the conveyor to keep -moving `.until it 'can "be withdrawn from the oven.

.Another 'object is to provide a coke oven feeding app'aratus of 'the 'foregoing character, wherein the chain rof the "endless ilight conveyor ofthe apparatus and its-sup* ipoiting pulleys #or fsprocketsare so constructed and arrnged fas Ato set up *a Whipping action which dislodges rpart'icle's fof `Y`coal that would otherwise tend to adhere to the chain and ights. A

Another object is to provide a coke oven feeding apparatus 'of the 'foreg ing ldlraracter wherein the quantity of coal 'fed fby the Conveyor is adjustable by means of a 'regulating device loca'ted adjacent 'the' supp'ly hopper land under the `control of the operator. Y f Anotherobjec't is to provide aboom-conveyorapparatus for delivering vmaterials 'ffrorn a `supply vpoint toa delivery point' reino't'e 'from the supply point, `regardless of possible obstructions het-weenthe twojpoints over which theboom in'a'y extend, `the boom being self-sustaining without the necessity o'f overhead braces, supports or suspensions, thereby/ enabling vehicles on differenttracks or roadways, orvess'e'ls in` di'lerent rows 4side by side on a waterway to he 'filled one by one withoutthe necessity of disturbing those intervening between lthe 'two points, the conveyor "being movable back and forth to variously position the outlet of the apparatus.

Another object is to provide a boom conveyor appara-4 tus as 'set -forth in the preceding objects wherein the boom is of tubular construction 'which not only renders it a strong elongated structure :but also enables it to serve as a conduit structure for conveying the material vfrom "the supply point to the delivery `point as well as carrying 'the endless conveyor-back from the delivery point to the supply point.

In the drawings:

Figure `=1 -is a `side elevation 'of a/coke oven I'feeding apparatus, 'according to one form of the invention, 'with a 'portion of theloweri car omitted and the `coke oven being Is'hown dia-'grammatically infdotted lines;

Fi'gure 2 is 'a side elevation, ypartly in section, of the portion'of the apparatus located 4vat the rearward end of the en'dless conveyor;

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-section taken along the line 3 3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a horizontal longitudinal section taken along the line 4 4 in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the forward end of the apparatus partly broken away to show the endless flight conveyor;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section taken along the line 6 6 in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a right-hand end elevation of the portion of the apparatus shown in Figure S;

P igure 8 is a vertical section through the conveyor chain supporting pulley taken along the line 8 8 in Figure 6; and

Figure 9 is a vertical section through one of the conveyo6r flight shear pins taken along the line 9 9 in Figure Referring to the drawings in detail, Figure l shows a side elevation of a boom conveyor apparatus, generally designated 10, according to one form of the invention, as applied to the feeding of coal to a coke oven. The boom conveyor apparatus 10 consists generally of lower supporting rails 11 carrying a lower car 12 on which are mounted upper supporting rails 13 transverse to the lower supporting rails 11 and carrying the upper car 14 which supports the boom conveyor unit or coke oven feeding unit, generally designated 15. The coke oven, one of which is shown in dotted lines and generally designated 16 in Figure l. has top and bottom walls 17 and 18 and front and rear walls 19 and 20, the front wall 19 having an opening 21 therein closed by sliding or swinging doors 23 giving access to the combustion space 22 at the top of the oven 16. The rear wall 20 is also removable to enable the finished coke to be pushed out of the oven 16. The lower rails 11 are mounted on the ground G or on a supporting platform of concrete or other suitable material, and are engaged by spaced pairs of anged wheels 24 mounted on axles 25 in brackets or trucks 26 upon which is mounted the lower structure 27 of the lower car 12. Uprights 28 lead to the upper structure 29 on which the rails 13 are mounted transversely to the rails 11.

The upper car 14 has a base 30 supported by flanged wheels 31 on axles 32 mounted in brackets or hangers 33 depending from the underside of the base 30. Mounted on the rearward end of the base 30 is a heavy counterweight 33a. Mounted on the upper side of the base 30 is a motor 34 which through a shaft 35 drives a reduction gear set 36, the output sprocket 37 of which drives an input or conveyor drive sprocket 38 by means of a conveyor chain 39. The sprocket 38 furnishes the power driving connection with an endless flight conveyor, generally designated 40, mounted within a tubular boom. generally designated 41, projecting forwardly from a feed hopper 42 mounted on the base 30 and receiving coal from a supply hopper 43. These portions, together with the counterweight 33a, are so mounted (Figure l) on the upper car 14 as to counterbalance the weight of the boom 41, conveyor 40 and its load of coal.

The sprocket 38 is mounted on a shaft 46 which is journaled in the side wall of a. housing 44 (Figure 2) and which is provided with elongated openings 45 to enable adjustment for taking up the slack in the endless conveyor 40. The slack takeup mechanism (not shown) is conventional. The tubular boom 41 near its junction with the feed hopper 42 is provided with a vent 47 for the discharge of hot gases which are carried back through the boom from the oven.

The conveyor 40 is supported at its rearward end on a sprocket 48 mounted on the shaft 46 and consists of a chain 49 having outer links 50 and inner links 51 (Figures 5, 6, 7 and 9) pivotally interconnected by pivot bolts 52. The outer links 50 are provided with arcuate edges 53 on one side thereof arud the inner links 51 are provided with similar arcuate Iedges 54 and 55 on both sides thereof (Figure 6) so as to t the concave periphj ery S6 of a relatively small diameter pulley 57 at the forward end of the boom 4l. The pulley 56 is rotatably mounted on bearings 58 (Figure 8) which in turn are mounted on an axle or stationary shaft 59, the ends of which are mounted in aligned bores 60 in side bars 61 and held in position by set screws 62 threaded therein as at 63. The bearings 58 are preferably high temperature bearings of the carbon type or of the graphite bronze type adapted to withstand the high temperatures occurring in the oven 16 and may be water-cooled for additional protection.

The rearward ends of the side bars 61 are notched as at 65 in their outer faces (Figure 5) so as to receive the forward portions 66 of the side walls 67 of the conveyor trough 68 (Figure 3) flush therewith. Pivotally mounted as by the pivot bolts 69 on the inner links 51 of the chain 49 are the inner portions 70 of angle brackets 71 (Figures 6 and 7), the outer portions 72 of which are welded or otherwise secured to flight discs 73, the entire assembly forming flights, generally designated 74. The inner portions 70 are approximately triangular in shape and through one corner are provided with aligned bores which are in turn aligned with a transverse bore 76 through each inner link S1. Inserted through the bores 75 and 76 are shear pins 77 having heads 78 on one end (Figure 9) and shanks 79 grooved as at 80 at the junctions between the angle bracket portions 70 and the sides of the links 51 in order to shear easily at these locations. The shear pins 77 are each provided with an external groove 81 in the projecting end of the shank 79 to receive a snap ring 82 or other fastener, such as a cotter pin or the like. The flight discs 73 are of irregular shape (Figure 7) with arcuate outer edges 83 and straight inner edges 84 joined by arcuate edge portions 85.

The arcuate edge portions 83 of the flight discs 73 arecurved approximately to fit the cross-sectional curvature of the bottom 86 of the boom trough 68 (Figure 3), preferably with a slight clearance space therebetween, and the arcuate portions are curved to approximately lit the interior of the conveyor boom conduit 67 (Figure 3) which is mounted between the upper edges 88 of the side portions 67 of the conveyor trough 68 so as to till the opening therein, and secured thereto, as by welding, at that location. Thus, the endless conveyor 40 on its forward or lower course passes along the bottom portion of the conveyor trough 68 and on its return course enters the ared mouth 89 (Figure 6) of the conveyor conduit 87. In order to protect the forward end of the boom conveyor 41 as it is thrust into the interior of the oven, a guard cage 9i) is provided. The guard cage 90 consists of a pair of approximately U-shaped rods 91 interconnected at intervals by cross rods 92 (Figures 5 and 6) and having their rearward upper and lower ends 93 and 94 welded or otherwise suitably secured to the outer walls of the conveyor conduit 87 and bottom portion 86 of the conveyor trough 68 respectively. The forward ends of the side bars 61 are also secured, as by welding, to the U-shaped rods 91.

At its rearward end, the tubular boom 41 consisting of the conveyor conduit 87 and trough 68 is secured to the edges of an opening 95 in the forwardly flared nose portion 96 of the feed hopper 42 (Figure 2). Extending from this opening 95 into the interior of the hopper 42 is a downwardly-inclined ramp 97 leading downward through an opening 98 in the rearward wall 99 of the hopper 42 to the rearward wall 100 of the housing 22, to the latter of which it is secured. An angle member 101 of inverted V-shaped cross-section (Figure 3) is supported at its forward end by a strut 102 depending from the conveyor conduit 87 and at its rearward end by the hopper wall 99 (Figure 2), and serves to hold the lower course of the conveyor down and to guide it upward along the ramp 97. The conveyor conduit 87 terminates at its rearward end 103 immediately adjacent the sprocket 48. In order to regulate the amount of coal carried into the legumes?? boom or -conve'yor itrough 168 by ithe .conveyor flights "T4, a'regulatingfbar or gate 1041'(Figures 2, 3 Vand -4) :extends across the conveyor ltrough-68 at the rearward endther'eof and `isbolted as at 105 to 'the'forward wall 106'of the feed hopper 42 (Figure `4*). Additional holes 107 are pro-` vided in the front -wall 106 arranged in a vertically-spaced vrelationshipso asto permit the gate 104 to be placed at dilerent heights in order to regulate the amountof coal which is permitted to enter the conveyor trough 68. The supply hopper-43 is roughly unnel=shaped fand converges toward its junction "108 `with/"the feed hopper 42.`

Operation 'In the operation ofthe inventiom letjit'be Aassumed y that there lis a battery of ovens lmounted-side 'by side in .a:row paralleling the lower tracks 11 and that the lower car 12 is wide enough and Vits upper tracks 13 long enough to permit the upper car 14 to move rearwardly a Sudicient amount to withdraw the entire boom 41 and cage 90 from the oven '16.` Thelower car 12 isthen moved along the `tracks 11to the elevator .or other coal supply source, from which va measured quantity of coal, such as 15 tons, is deposited in the supply "hopper 43 from which it passes downwardly into the feed hopper 42. Here ,it 'falls downward 'around the conveyor conduit -87 and over the holddown member 101onto the ramp 47. Assumingtha't the gate "104 'has been set at the desired height according to 'the rate of coal feed desired,and also assuming that the motor 34 has been started in operation, 'theflower course of the conveyor 40 moves into the boorn' or conveyor i 'trough 68, carrying with it the. coal which constantly alls vdownward into the lowerjpart of ,the feed hopper 52 Vfrom the supply 'hopper 43. At the same time, the coke oven feeding unit 15 has meanwhile been moved by means ofthe lower car 12 until itjhas arrived opposite theoven 16 which is to vbe charged, and the boom 41 is run`into the `interior of the combustionspace 22 at the top of the oven 16-.by moving lthe upper car "14 ,along the upper 'tracks 12.

Thus, 'a steady supply of coal is dumped` out'through the cage 90 at the forward end of the boom 41 `as fthe boom makes` its way into the interior of the oven 16.

Thera-te of feed is sonadjusted that when the cage 90 `at `the forward end of the boom 41 arrivesl at the rearward wall of the oven 16, the conveyor40 has depos- -itedapproximately half ofthe load of coa'l in the hoppers `4,2 and 43. The car 14 is `then moved rearwardly Aalong `the upper tracks 12 away from the oven 16 while the conveyor 40 continues to dump the remaining half of the load of coal in the hoppers 42 .and 43, the last of fthe charge being deposited as the forward end or cage 90 of the boom 41 reaches `the opening 21' in the forward oven wall 19.` y

The charge of coal entering the boom 41 is, of course, comparatively cool and serves to cool the boom 41 and conveyor 40 to a .certain extent. It also serves as a `lubricant or as a bearing layer to hold theV edges 83 of the flight discs 73 olf the bottom 86 of the conveyor trough 68, thus reducing wear of the conveyor trough68. The comparatively small diameter of the pulley 57, coupled with the curved edges 53 and 54 of the outer and inner links 52 and S5 cause these links to jump as they lpass around the pulley 57, thereby causing the conveyor chain 49 to whip up and down. This action .dislodges particles of coal which would otherwise tend to adhere to the conveyor 40. The carbon or `bronze bearings 58 Vfor the `pulley 57 serve yto journal the pulley 57 for free rotation `even at the high temperatures encountered Lin the interior of the oven. Since `the conveyor 40 lills the lower half of the oven 16 while it is going in and the upperhalfwhile it is coming out, the oven 16 is `filled with its measured .charge rapidly and eiciently without the need for vany leveling olf and without any spillage of coal. The depth 0f coal in the conveyor trough is preferably approxi- @mately twice the `diameter ofthe vflights `74. The conhard rock, ihappens to enter the hopper 42an'dfencounters `form structure 12 equipped with the lrails 13.

the conveyor 40, jammingof'the conveyor isprevented by the shear pins 77 in the vicinity ofthe object or body. These give way `at `their fracture grooves 80 (Figure 9), permitting `the 'flights 74 to .pivot around 'their `pivot bolts 69`and fold backward along the conveyor chain 49. Thus, the `conveyor-Writ: permitted to continue moving in its orbital path and thereby :prevented :from incurring damage due 4to the heat while "the apparatus is removed from `the oven '16 for removal `of the lobstruction and replacement .of the shear pins. The `.arcuate rportions at the side edges ofthe conveyor flights 'engage the Vinner wallof the conveyor conduit `8'7 so as to keep the chain 49 ol the inner wall and thereby prevent -it from sawing its way through the conduit 87.

-The'boom conveyor apparatus 10 may also beemployed to :deliver `materials from Cthe supply vhopper 43 lto vfurnaces, kilns, chemical processing receptacles or to one or more of a series of vehicles orother material receivers located remote from the supply hopper 43 lor separated -therefrom by obstacles over which or Vthrough which the iboom `41 may reach. "One such arrangement occurs where there are several pairs of tracks side -by side or -a broad roadway yor `waterway where `the'oven 16 is located,

the tracks 'or roadway `being lparallel to the tracks 11.

With he Iboom `conveyor Vapparatus. '10, fit is then possi'ble :to load any fone `-or 'all of aseries ofrailway cars, trucks, Vor vessels side by'side'on different tracks or in dilerentrows on uthe nroadway vor waterway merely Vby rst loading one car, truck =or vessel, then moving over it vtothe neXt'car, truck or Vessel, and kso 4on until the required number is filled. The .supply hopper 43 may `be elongated 'at its rearward Aside to .permit continuous loading Vfrom `a `fixed overhead source, while itis moving back and forth.

'If the cars, trucks orvessels are themselves conveniently lmovable past the apparatus 10, the lower 'car 12 and its rails "11 may 4be dispensed Vwith'and replaced by a pla't- In the case of a waterway :located where the oven `1'6 is located fin Figure 1, the platform structure 12 may form a part :offa `dock structure, 'but the `action'of 'the boon-1 conveyor apparatus 1-0 is similar to that already :described in connection with the feeding of the `coke oven 16 except that the yapparatus 1'0 does inot move transversely to the :tracks 13. If, however, it is more convenient to move the boo'm conveyor unit 15 transversely to the axis of ltheboom 41 than to move the railway cars, trucks Eor vessels during the loading operations, this -is done by means 'of the lower car 12 and .rails 11 inthe manner analogous to that `previously described vin loading the `coke oven 116.

What l claim is:

1. A boom conveyor apparatus for conveying material to a plurality of stations disposed along atrackway, vsaid apparatus comprising a car having wheels adapted "to travel along said trackway, a guideway mounted ron 'said car transversely yof said traczw'ay, a 'carriage reciprocably mounted on said guideway for motion 'thereal'ong toward and away from each station as said car larrives opposite said last-mentioned 'station while traveling along said trackway, a material supply receptacle on said carriage, an elongated tubular self-sustaining boom structure Su`pported at its rearward 'end only and having its rearward end ixcdly mounted on said carriage and projecting out wardly therefrom, the outwardlyprojecting 'portion of said tubular boom structure having substantially parallel upper and lower edges substantially throughout its entire length, a forward conveyor supporting wheel rotatably mounted at the forward `end of said boom structure, a rearward conveyor supporting wheel rotatably mounted behind the rearward end of said boom structure, an endless exible member trained between and around said conveyor supporting wheels, said rearward supporting wheel drivingly engaging said endless flexible member, said endless flexible member passing through a portion of said receptacle, flights mounted at spaced intervals along said endless flexible member, and a prime mover mounted on said carriage and drivingly connected to said rearward conveyor supporting wheel.

2. A boom conveyor unit for boom conveyor apparatus comprising a hollow tubular self-sustaining elongated boom structure adapted to be mounted at one end on said apparatus and project outwardly therefrom, a forward conveyor supporting wheel rotatably mounted at the forward end of said boom structure, a rearward conveyor supporting wheel rotatably mounted behind the rearward end of said boom structure, an endless flexible member trained between and around said conveyor supporting wheels, said rearward supporting wheel drivingly engaging said endless flexible member, said endless flexible member passing through said hollow tubular boom structure, and flights mounted at spaced intervals along said endless flexible member, said hollow boom structure including a lower conduit portion of approximately U- shaped cross-section traversed by the forwardly moving portion of said endless flexible member and an upper conduit portion of substantially circular cross-section traversed by the rearwardly moving portion of said endless flexible member.

3. A boom conveyor unit for boom conveyor apparatus comprising a hollow tubular self-sustaining elongated boom structure adapted to be mounted at one end on said apparatus and project outwardly therefrom, a forward conveyor supporting element rotatably mounted at the forward end of said boom structure, a rearward conveyor supporting element rotatably mounted behind the rearward end of said boom structure, an endless flexible member trained between and around said conveyor supporting wheels, said rearward supporting wheel drivingly engaging said endless flexible member, said endless flexible member passing through said hollow tubular boom structure, and flights mounted at spaced intervals along said endless flcxible member, said hollow boom structure including a lower conduit portion of approximately U-shaped cross section traversed by the forwardly moving portion of said endless flexible member and an upper conduit portion of substantially circular cross-section traversed by the rearwardly moving portion of said endless flexible member, the side walls of said lower conduit portion extending upwardly into engagement with and secured to said upper conduit portion.

4. A boom conveyor unit for boom conveyor apparatus comprising an elongated boom structure, a forward conveyor supporting wheel rotatably mounted at the forward end of said boom structure, a rearward conveyor supporting wheel rotatably mounted behind the rearward end of said boom structure, an endless flexible member trained between and around said conveyor supporting wheels, said rearward supporting wheel drivingly engaging said endless flexible member, and flights mounted at spaced intervals along said endless flexible member, said flights being pivotally connected to said endless flexible member and foldable rearwardly therealong, said flights also having frangible shear elements normally engaging and locking said flights against such folding motion relatively to said endless flexible member, said shear elements being rupturable to release said flights to fold rearwardly in response to the exertion thereon of a predetermined excessive force.

5. A boom conveyor unit for boom conveyor apparatus comprising an elongated boom structure, a forward conveyor supporting wheel rotatably mounted at the forward end of said boom structure, a toothed rearward conveyor supporting and driving wheel rotatably mounted behind the rearward end of said boom structure, an endless llexible member trained between and around said conveyor supporting elements and drivingly engaging said rearward supporting wheel drivingly engaging said endless flexible member, and flights mounted at spaced intervals along said endless flexible member, said endless flexible member comprising an endless chain having links with arcuate edge portions matingly engageable with the pcriphery of said forward conveyor supporting wheel.

6. A boom conveyor unit for boom conveyor apparatus comprising a hollow tubular elongated boom structure adapted to be mounted at one end on said apparatus and project outwardly therefrom, a forward conveyor supporting wheel rotatably mounted at the forward end of said boom structure, a rearward conveyor supporting wheel rotatably mounted behind the rearward end of said boom structure, an endless flexible member trained between and around said conveyor supporting wheels, said rearward supporting wheel drivingly engaging said endless flexible member. said endless flexible member passing through said hollow tubular boom structure, and flights mounted at spaced intervals along said endless flexible member, said forward supporting wheel being mounted externally and forwardly of the forward end of said hollow boom structure, and a forwardly-converging material-deflecting and shielding structure mounted around the forward side of said forward supporting wheel.

7. A boom conveyor unit for boom conveyor apparatus comprising a hollow tubular elongated boom structure adapted to be mounted at one end on said apparatus' and project outwardly therefrom, a forward conveyor supporting wheel rotatably mounted at the forward end of said boom structure, a rearward conveyor supporting wheel rotatably mounted behind the rearward end of said boom structure, an endless flexible member trained between and around said conveyor supporting wheels, said rearward supporting wheel drivingly engaging said endless flexible member, said endless flexible member passing through said hollow tubular boom structure, and flights mounted at spaced intervals along said endless flexible member, said forward supporting wheel being mounted externally and forwardly of the forward end of said hollow boom structure, and a forwardly-converging material-deflecting and shielding structure of open cage construction mounted around the forward side of said forward supporting wheel.

8. A boom conveyor unit for boom conveyor apparatus comprising an elongated boom structure, a heat-resisting bearing unit mounted at the forward end of said boom structure, a forward conveyor supporting wheel rotatably mounted on said bearing unit, a rearward conveyor supporting wheel rotatably mounted behind the rearward end of said boom structure, an endless flexible member trained between and around said conveyor supporting wheels, said rearward supporting wheel drivingly engaging said endless flexible member, and flights mounted at spaced intervals along said endless flexible member.

9. A boom conveyor unit for boom conveyor apparatus comprising a hollow tubular elongated boom structure, a forward conveyor supporting wheel rotatably mounted at the forward end of said boom structure, a rearward conveyor supporting wheel rotatably mounted behind the rearward end of said boom structure, an endless flexible member trained between and around said conveyor supporting wheels, said rearward supporting wheel drivingly engaging said endless flexible member, said endless flexible member passing through said hollow tubular boom structure, flights mounted at spaced intervals along said endless flexible member, and a material flow volume regulating member disposed at the entrance to said boom structure, said flow regulating member extending at least partially across and partially obstructing said entrance.

l0. A boom conveyor unit for boom conveyor apparatus comprising a hollow tubular elongated boom structure, a forward conveyor supporting wheel rotatably mounted at the forward end of said boom structure, a rearward conveyor supporting wheel rotatably mounted behind the rearward end of said boom structure, an endless flexible member trained between and around said 9 conveyor supporting wheels, said rearward supporting wheel drivingly engaging said endless flexible member, said endless flexible member passing through said hollow tubular boom structure, ights mounted at spaced intervals along said endless flexible member, and a material ow volume regulating member disposed at the entrance to said boom structure and adjustably lmounted thereon for adjustment toward and away from said ilights, said ilow regulating member extending at least partially across and partially obstructing saidentrance.

11. A boom conveyor apparatus comprising a material supply receptacle, an elongated boom structure connected to said receptacle and projecting outwardly therefrom, said receptacle having an exit opening at its junction with said boom structure, a forward conveyor supporting wheel rotatably mounted at the forward end of said boom structure, a rearward conveyor supporting wheel rotatably mounted behind the rearward end of said boom structure, an endless flexible member trained between and around said conveyor supporting wheels, said rearward supporting wheel drivingly engaging said endless exible member, said endless exible member passing through a portion of said receptacle, llights mounted at spaced intervals along said endless exible member, said material recep- 10 tacle having a bottom wall inclined upwardly toward said exit opening, and an upwardly-inclined elongated conveyor holddown member disposed above said bottom wall in spaced relationship therewith and guidingly engageable with said endless ilexible member.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 632,202 Phiuips et a1 Aug. 29, 1899 845,719 Schniewind Feb. 26, 1907 912,964 Jenkins Feb. 16, 1909 1,222,016 Mosby Apr. 10, 1917 1,338,514 Majerus Apr. 27, 1920 1,527,742 Manierre Feb. 24, 1925 1,708,132 Haiss Apr. 9, 1929 1,769,992 Furbush July 8, 1930 1,975,855 McBee Oct. 9, 1934 2,417,186 Birt Mar. 11, 1947 2,560,823 Roscoe et al July 17, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 180,314 France Dec. 16, 1886 16,750 Great Britain Sept. 19, 1892 255,319 Germany Jan. 4, 1913 

